The LoonWatch Program

Imagine a northern lake without the haunting calls and awe-inspiring presence of the Common Loon. It's a disturbing thought, but in some places, it's happening. Air and water pollution, loss of habitat, and increasing recreational activities on lakes all pose serious threats to loons across North America, and in some cases are responsible for loons and loon music disappearing from traditional nesting lakes.

LoonWatch, a program of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, protects common loons and their aquatic habitats through education, monitoring, and research. Though our primary focus is Wisconsin, our education and research activities extend to Upper Great Lakes region, such as Michigan and Minnesota. We also lend support to North American conservation efforts by working with loon conservation organizations across the United States and Canada.

LoonWatch, its Advisory Council, and volunteers are all working toward common goals of loon conservation and protection. For more information about the program, contact the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College, (715) 682-1220, or email loonwatch@northland.edu.
"Above came a soft whisper of wings, and as the loons saw us they called wildly in alarm and took the laughing with them into the gathering dusk. The shores echoed and re-echoed until they seemed to throb with the music. This was the symbol of the lake country, the sound that more than any other typifies the rocks, waters and forests of the wilderness."
- Sigurd F. Olson, Listening Point

Tremolo Joe Medium Roast, Wailing Joe Decaf, and Yodeling Joe Dark Roast coffee has been roasted by Backroads Coffee and Tea in Hayward, WI to support LoonWatch. The Tremelo is the alert call given by loons. Each bag of this organic, shade-grown coffee sold supports LoonWatch's mission to protect loons through education monitoring and research. 100% Arabica Coffee and Certified Fair Trade. Learn more about Backroad's Coffee and Tea at www.backroadscoffee.com

Adrian P. Wydeven was born in the Netherlands in 1952, and his family immigrated to the U.S. and Fox Valley region of northeast Wisconsin in 1959. Adrian grew up reading stories of the last wolves disappearing from the state, and the possibility that there might be one or 2 loners left roaming along the Wisconsin/Michigan border. Adrian obtained BS degrees in Biology and Wildlife Management at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1976, and a MS degree in Wildlife Ecology from Iowa State University at Ames in 1979. His master’s research focused on food habitats, habitat use, and competitive interactions of elk with other mammalian herbivores. From 1980 through 1982, he worked as an assistant wildlife area manager in northeast Missouri. Adrian returned to Wisconsin in 1982 to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife manager. Over the next 8 years he worked at stations in Oshkosh, Appleton, and Shawano. In 1990 Adrian began work as a non-gam! e biologist in Park Falls, heading up the state wolf recovery program, and other programs on non-game wildlife in northern Wisconsin. His title was changed to mammalian ecologist in 1993, as his focus became mainly mammals, especially the carnivores. Since August 2012 his title has changed to Carnivore Specialist in Wildlife Management in the DNR. Along with heading up the state wolf program, Adrian has been involved with monitoring and management of American martens, surveys for lynx, investigations of cougar observations, surveys of other carnivores, serving on the state wolf, furbearer, elk, marten advisory committees, as well as other state and federal wildlife advisory committees. Adrian lives near Cable, Wisconsin, with his wife Sarah Boles, a professor at Northland College.

Ways to Support LoonWatch

Supporting LoonWatch can include donating your photography, volunteering to be a citizen scientist for research projects, or giving a cash donation that ensure LoonWatch will be here to help loons thrive in the Northwoods. For more information, please contact Erica LeMoine at (715) 682-1220 or email at loonwatch@northland.edu.